Food as medicine, community as medicine: Mental health effects of a social care intervention

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Recipe4Health (R4H) provided participants with 16 weeks of weekly home-delivered produce prescriptions ("Food Farmacy") with or without supports (GMV) including Nutrition education and cooking demonstrations, Physical activity and relaxation techniques, Small-group health coaching and peer support, and Medical care and health screenings. This study evaluated the impact of the Recipe4Health (R4H) intervention on mental health outcomes, food insecurity, and social support.

Participants in Food Farmacy + GMV saw greater mental health and food security improvements than those in Food Farmacy-only. Depression scores (PHQ-9) improved by 2.4 points (p < 0.001) and anxiety scores (GAD-7) improved by 2.2 points (p < 0.001) for GMV participants, with larger improvements among those with baseline depression/anxiety. Food Farmacy + GMV participants showed the food security improvements from 49.4% food secure at baseline to 69.2% at follow-up.

Fruit and vegetable intake increased by up to 0.94 servings/day for participants in Food Farmacy + GMV, compared to smaller or non-significant changes in Food Farmacy-only. Physical activity increased significantly for GMV participants, with those having depression/anxiety increasing weekly moderate activity by 31.7 minutes (p = 0.01).

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

The Recipe4Health intervention effectively improved mental health, food security, and social support, particularly for those in Food Farmacy + GMV. The study highlights the potential for food-as-medicine interventions to address both physical and mental health needs, suggesting that integrating food prescriptions with structured group medical visits can enhance well-being beyond nutrition alone. Future efforts should focus on sustaining long-term access, addressing affordability barriers, and expanding coverage through Medicaid and health care partnerships.